Cigarette packing machine



Aug. 29, 1961 v. A. AHLBOR CIGARETTE PACKING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed March 5, 1959 Aug. 29, 1961 V. A. AHLBOR CIGARETTE PACKING MACHINEFiled March 3, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent O" 1959, Ser.No. 796,975

The present invention relates to a cigarette packing machine of the typewhich has a feeding device for feeding the cigarettes to a supplycontainer from which the cigarettes are delivered in batches to acigarette packing mechanism. When using such a machine it may happenthat one of said devices will stop while the other continues operating.If the feeding device, for example consisting of a conveyor, stops whilethe packing device, consisting, for example, of a drum, continuesoperating, the supply container will be quickly emptied and will notdeliver any cigarettes to the packing device. If instead the packingmechanism stops while the feeding device continues deliveringcigarettes, the supply container will be rapidly overfilled.

The above disadvantages are eliminated by the present invention, andother improvements which will be described hereinafter are broughtabout.

According to the invention the supply container is provided with anadjustable storage device the capacity of which is increasable byoperating the feeding device and which is arranged to transfer storedcigarettes to the supply container by operating the packing mechanism.Preferably means, as limit switches, are provided to stop the feedingdevice when the capacity of the storage device has reached apredetermined maximum value and to stop the packing mechanism when thestorage device has been emptied. The device according to the inventioncan also fulfill an important purpose when the :machine is started.According to the invention it can be provided with a device forautomatic start of the packing mechanism whenthe feeding device operatesand has filled the storage device to about half its capacity.

The storage device according to the invention comprises at least onecapacity-regulating member.

The one embodiment of the storage device comprises a capacity-regulatingmember in form of a flexible belt constituting a side wall of a storagebox. The belt is wound upon a roller in accordance with the operation ofthe cigarette feeding device and the cigarette packing mechanism so asto change the capacity of the storage device.

According to a second embodiment of the invention the feeding devicecomprises two separate feeding members which are individually driven,but together control the packing mechanism in such a manner that thismechnism operates with full packing capacity when both the feedingmembers operate simultaneously, but only with half its packing capacitywhen one feeding member opcrates provided that the storage device whichmay comprise two rotatable, rigid storage plates each forming a sidewall of a storage box, contains a predetermined arbitrary quantity ofcigarettes in each storage box.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of exampleonly with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURES l and 2 are an elevation and a plan respectively, with parts cutaway, of the first machine according to the invention,

FIGURE 3 is a circuit diagram showing the control circuits of themachine shown in FIGURES l and 2,

FIGURE 4 illustrates certain succeeding cycles of operation of themachine shown in FIGURES 1 to 3,

2,997,828 Patented Aug. 29, 19:61

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FIGURE 5 is an elevation, partly in section, of a sec ond machineaccording to the invention,

(FIGURE 6 is a plan partly in section, of shown in FIGURE 5, and

'FIGURE 7 is a diagram of the control circuits of the machine shown inFIGURES 5 and 6.

A machine using a single storage member according to the firstembodiment, shown in FIGURES 1 to 3, will first be described.

Cigarettes, fed, for example, from a cigarette rod machine, are conveyedby an endless belt 1 to a supply container 2 into which the cigaretteswill fall and from which batches of cigarettes are fed into pockets 4 inwhich the cigarettes are packed of a packing drum 3 secured to a shaft 5that is rotated step by step. This operation and the machine equipmentdescribed and shown are well known in the art.

The supply container 2 is provided with a cigarette storage device inthe form of a flexible side wall 6 of a box 20 secured to the machineframe 7, which wall con sists of a belt of rubber or any other suitablematerial. The upper portion of the belt 6 is secured to a roller 8 whichin turn is secured to a horizontal shaft 9 rotatably journaled in abearing 10 in the machine frame 7. The shaft 9 can be manually connectedby a clutch 34 to a shaft 36 which is axially slidable against the biasof a spring (not shown) and provided with a hand wheel 37 by which theshaft 9 and the roller 8 can be manually rotated.

A gear 11 is secured to the shaft 9 and meshes with a gear 12 which isfreely rotatably mounted on a shaft 13 secured to a bracket 72 in themachine frame. The gear 12 carries a contact arm 14 for a purpose whichwill be explained below. A worm wheel 16 is also secured to the shaft 9and meshes with a worm 17 secured to the upper end of a vertical shaft18 which is rotatably journaled in brackets 73 in the machine frame 7. Aworm wheel 19 is secured to the lower end of the shaft 18 and mesheswith a worm 21 which is secured to a horizontal shaft 22 rotatablymounted in a bracket 35 in the machine frame.7. The shaft 22 is providedwith a clutch 23 consisting of two dog-clutch members 24, 26 which arerotatably mounted on this shaft, but restrained from axial movement, anda dog-clutch member 27 which is non-rotatably mounted, but axiallyslidable, on the shaft 22 between the clutch members 24 and 26. Ashifting arm 28 is engaged with the clutch member 27 and is secured to avertical shaft 29 which is rotatably journaled in a bracket 74 in theframe 7. Springs 31 are provided to maintain the arm 28 in an idleposition between two solenoids 32, 33 mounted on brackets in the frame7.

The clutch member 24 has a sprocket wheel 38 driven through a chain 42from a sprocket wheel 41 mounted on a driving shaft 15 for the conveyor1 which shaft is journaled in a bracket 45. A further sprocket 43 issecured to the shaft 15 and is driven by an electromotor 46 through achain 44 so as to drive the shaft 15 and the clutch member 24 in thedirection indicated in FIGURE 2, i.e. counterclockwise as seen in FIGURE1, the roller 8 thus being driven clockwise (as seen in FIGURE 1) whenit is coupled to the shaft 15. I

The clutch half 26 is provided with a sprocket wheel 39. A shaft 48,rotatably journaled in bearings 47 in the machine frame 7, carries asprocket wheel 49 connected to the sprocket wheel 39 by a chain 51. Afurther sprocket wheel 50 is secured to the shaft 48 and driven througha chain 52 by an electromotor 53, so that the shaft 48 and clutch half26 are driven in a direction shown in FIGURE 2, i.e. clockwise as seenin FIGURE 1, and the roller 8 will be driven counterclockwise whenconthe machine by means of an arm 56 secured to the shaft 48.

The shafts and 43 are each provided with contact devices 57 and 58,respectively, comprising contacts 57a and 58a which are spring biased toclose and complete circuits through the solenoids 33 and 32 respectivelyand which are each coupled to the respective shaft by a slipping clutchso as to be opened when that shaft rotates. If only the conveyor 1operates i.e. the shaft 48 is stationary, while the shaft 15 rotates thecircuit through the solenoid 32 remains closed while that through thesolenoid 33 is opened so that the solenoid 32 attracts the shifting arm28 so as to connect the clutch member 27 and thus the shaft 22 to therevolving clutch member 24. Thus, while cigarettes are being fed to thecontainer, the shaft 22 will be rotated counterclockwise. This rotarymotion is transmitted to the shaft 9 through worm gearing 19, 21, 17 and16 and the shaft 18 so that the shaft 9 will turn the roller 8 clockwiseto slacken the belt 6 so that it will be positioned as indicated bydash-and-dot lines in FIG- .URE 1 If instead the conveyor belt 1 andconsequently the shaft 15 are stopped and the packing wheel 3 and theshaft 48 rotate, the contact device 58 will break the circuit throughthe solenoid 32 while the contact device 57 maintains the circuitthrough the solenoid 33, thereby enabling the solenoid 33 to attract theshifting arm 28.

In this case the shaft 22 is connected to the clutch member 26 rotatingclockwise, so that it will drive the shaft 9 counter-clockwise and theroller 8 will begin to stretch the belt 6 and transfer cigarettes to thesupply container 2 as cigarettes are delivered therefrom to the packingdrum 3.

Under normal operating conditions, when the two shafts 15 and 48 arerotating, balance is established between the quantities of cigarettesdelivered to and taken from the supply container. In this case theshiftable clutch member 27 is in its neutral position while the belt 6(as described hereinafter) has stored a reserve supply of cigarettesequal, for example to half its capacity. If however, the supplycontainer 2 is empty and this occurs when the packing machine is to bestarted, the belt 6 is maintained in its stretched position indicated byfull lines in FIGURE 1. The switch arm 14 is now positioned opposite theswitch 59, secured to a bracket 30, and holds its contacts whereby acircuit through a solenoid 64 (FIG- URE 3) is broken. The machine isstarted by manually closing a switch 62 which is held closed by itssolenoid 61 energised over a holding circuit including contacts 69. Themotor 46 when started by switch 62 will drive the shaft 15counterclockwise (FIGURE 1) and then the storage belt 6 will be slackedby the clockwise rotation of the shaft 9 (FIGURE 1), whereby the arm 14will rotate counterclockwise from its stop position at the switch 59(FIGURE 3) thus causing the contacts of the switch to be closed to makeit possible for the motor 53 to be started later. The arm 14 continuesits clockwise rotation while the supply container 2 is filled withcigarettes and, when it is full, the belt 6 stores cigarettes. When thearm 14, after about half a revolution counterclockwise, reaches aposition opposite a switch 63 mounted on a bracket 55 the arm closes theswitch so that a circuit through the solenoid 64 and contacts 59 isclosed. The energised solenoid 64 closes the switch 66 so that the motor53 driving the packing drum 3 and related parts will start operating.Simultaneously current is supplied to the solenoid 67 which openscontacts 68 with a predetermined delay time. Prior to this, a holdingcircuit has been closed to the solenoid 64 enabling the motor 53 tocontinue in operation. Balance is maintained between the quantity ofcigarettes fed to the container 2 and the quantity of cigarettestransferred from the container to the packing drum 3.

Since both shaft 15 and the shaft 48 are rotated, the energisingcircuits to the solenoids 32 and 33 are held open, the shifting arm 28thus being in its neutral position whereby the storage belt isstationary containing, for example, half its maximum reserve content ofcigarettes. During this normal operation batches of cigarettes fed by aplunger out of cigarette passages 25 and into the uppermost pocket 4 ofthe drum 3 which rotates step by step a quarter of a revolution at astep (FIGURE 1).

Should, however, the cigarette delivery from the cigarette rod machinecease, i.e. if the motor 46 stops running, the solenoid 33 will beenergised, thereby connecting the shaft 22 to the shaft 48 so that theroller 8 starts winding in the storage belt 6, while the arm 14 isturned clockwise until it has returned to the stop position opposite theswitch 59. The contacts 59 of the switch are opened which in turn causesthe switch 66 to be opened and the motor 53 to be stopped thusinterrupting the operation of the packing drum 3 and its coacting parts,i.e. the machine will stop completely.

When the cause of the non-delivery of cigarettes to the supply container2 is eliminated, the motor 46 is started again, while the motor 53remains idle so that the solenoid 32 connects the shaft 22 to the shaft15 and the arm 14 leaves the stop position at the switch 59 and isrotated counterclockwise, thus causing the belt 6 to be slacked to storecigarettes until the arm 14 reaches the switch 63 thereby causing themotor 53 to operate and initiate the packing operation.

Should for any reason the operation of the packing device cease but thefeeding of cigarettes from the conveyor 1 continue, the solenoid 32 willbe energised and the shaft 22 connected to the shaft 15 so that the beltwill be further slackened and its normal content of half a maximumsupply increased to a predetermined extent which will be reached whenthe arm 14 during its counterclockwise movement has reached the stopposition of the cigarette feed motor 46 i.e. a position in front of theswitch 69 on the bracket 30. The contacts of the switch 69 are thenopened, the solenoid 69 deenergised, the switch 62 opened, and the motor46 stopped. Simultaneously the arm 28 brings the clutch member 27 intoits neutral position.

From the above description it will be seen that the machine to someextent may be characterised as selfregulating. When starting with afilled container 2, the drum 3 and relating parts must first startoperating and, when starting with an empty container, the conveyor 1must first start to deliver cigarettes into the supply container 2.These operations are carried out automatically since the arm 14 ispositioned in its end positions at the switches 59 and 69, depending onwhether the cigarette storage belt 6 is fully slack or tight.Independently of which part of the machine that is started first, it isarranged automatically to start that part of the machine which is idleat the moment, i.e. the conveyor 1 or the packing drum 3, when the arm14 has reached a position between the two stop positions. As thisposition lies midway between the two stop positions, viz: at the switch63, the storage belt 6 will, during normal machine operation, always behalf filled with cigarettes.

FIGURE 4 shows the operation of the machine under certain workingconditions. Diagram A illustrates the delivery of cigarettes from theconveyor 1. Diagram B illustrates the operation of the packing drum, anddiagram C illustrates variations in the amount of cigarettes stored inthe storage pocket formed by the belt 6.

During the interval 01 it is assumed that the machine is standing stilland that the storage belt 6 is emptied. During the interval 1-2,cigarettes are delivered from the conveyor 1 driven by motor 46. Nopacking operation occurs in this interval. The arm 14 movescounterclockwise in FIGURES l and 3 from the switch 59 to the switch 63and the belt 6 will store cigarettes. When the arm 14 reaches switch 63,the driving motor 53 of the packing drum 3 starts operating and theclutch 27 returns to its neutral position, thereby stopping the rotationof the roller 8 of the storage belt 6.

. During the time interval 23, the conveyor '1 and the drum 3 operatesin synchronism whereby the number of cigarettes delivered by theconveyor 1 is equal to the number of cigarettes transferred to the drum3 and accordingly the quantity of cigarettes stored in the belt 6remains constant.

During the interval 3-4, cigarettes are still delivered to the container2 but for some reason the packing drum 3 has stopped, thereby causingthe belt 6 to store cigarettw while the arm 14 turns counterclockwisefrom the switch 63 towards the switch 69. When the arm 14 reaches theswitch 69 and opens it the conveyor belt 1 will be automaticallystopped.

During the interval 4-5, the machine is idle and the belt 6 has storedits maximum quantity of cigarettes.

. 'At 5 the cause of the machine stopping has been eliminated. Theswitch 66 is closed to start the motor 53 the drum 3 thus startingpacking operations, but the delivery of cigarettes to the container 2 isstill interrupted. The arm 14 then moves clockwise from the switch 69towards the switch 63 and the quantity of cigarettes stored by the belt6 is successively decreasing. I

At 6 the arm 14 has reached the switch 63 during its movement inclockwise direction and closes it so that the motor 46 starts runningthereby starting a new cigarette delivery operation. During the interval6-7 delivery and packing means work in balanced relation to each otherthereby maintaining the quantity of stored cigarettes constant.

' For some reason the motor 46 stops at 7, interrupting the deliveryofcigarettes to the containerz for the interval '7-8, but the packingoperation continues, the quantity of stored cigarettes thus decreasing.The arm 14 moves, while the storage belt 6 is stretched, until theswitch 59 is opened so that the motor 53 stops running. The machine isthen stopped.

j The second embodiment of the invention will now be described withreference to FIGURES 5 to 7.

As shown in FIGURE 5 the feeding mechanism consists of two separateendless belts 76a and 76b extending from cigarette rod machines.Cigarettes are fed by the belts to a supply container into which theyfall and are fed in batches into pockets 78 of a drum 77 secured to ashaft 79 and rotating step by step.

. In-the embodiment of the machine illustrated the adjustable cigarettestorage device consists of two separate storage members each having arigid, rotatable plate or side wall 80a and 8012, respectively. Theplates which can be of an arbitrarily shape but preferably rectangular,have each a substantially straight edge secured to a shaft 81a and 81b,respectively and are positioned opposite each other at the mouth 82 ofthe supply container. 'I-'he circumference of each plate, the straightpivot edge excepted, is surrounded by a fixed boxshaped casing formingan adjustable storage member together with the plate. Each wall portionof the casing which is normal to the shafts 81a and 81b, respectively,consists of a sector of a circle. The arcs of the sectors on both sidesof each plate are connected to each other by a wallportion 118 having aradius of curvature substantially equal to the length of the plate. Eachshaft 81a and 81b is mounted in the. machine frame and carries twofreely rotatable gears 83a, 84a and 83b, 84b, respectively. Each shaft81a, 81b can be connected to one of the gears 83a and 84a and 83b and84b, respectively, when a solenoid-controlled clutch 85a, 85b,respectively, shown diagrammati. cally, is actuated. The gears 83a and83b mesh with each other and so do the gears 84a and 84b.

The gear 84b meshes also with a gear 86b, secured to a shaft 8711 whichis journaled in the machine frame. The shaft 87b carries also twosprockets 88 and 89b. The'sprocket 88 is driven through a chain 90b froma 6 sprocket 91 secured to the shaft'ofga motor M4. The gear 83a alsomeshes with a gear 86a secured to a shaft 87a mounted in the machineframe. The shaft 87a carries also a sprocket 89a which is connected tothe sprocket 89b by a chain 90a.

The conveyor belts 76a, 76b, transporting cigarettes, are individually,driven from motors M1 and M2, respectively, in directions indicated byarrows, through chains 92a and 92b, respectively, and shafts 93a and 93bwhich are mounted in the machine frame.

A motor M3 drives by sprockets and a chain 94 a shaft 95 which isjournaled in a bracket 96 secured to the frame. One end of the shaft 95carries an arm 97 which, when the motor M3 operates, rotates a Genevawheel 98 step by step. The Geneva wheel is secured to a shaft 79transmitting the movement to the packing drum 77.

In the illustrated embodiment of the packing machine, the packing drum77 is arranged to start operating, if the supply container is emptied,only when the storage device contains a predetermined quantity ofcigarettes and to be stopped when the container is entirely emptied. Theconveyor belts 76a, 76b are arranged to be stopped when the storagedevice is wholly filled with cigarettes. In accordance with distributionof the cigarettes in the two storage devices and the working conditionsof the conveyor belts the packing drum 77 is also arranged to operate atfull or half speed. The operation and position of the different partsare controlled by switch actuating arms 99a and 99b secured to theshafts 81a and 81b respectively. The switch actuating arm 99a carries aswitch actuating arc 100a and the switch actuating arm 99a carries aswitch actuating are 10%.

The switch actuating arm 99a cooperates with two limit switches 101a and102a and with an intermediate switch 103a. The arm 99b cooperates withtwo limit switches 101b and 10% and with an intermediate switch 103b.The switch actuating arc 100a mounted on the arm 99a cooperates with aswitch 104a, and the switch actuating are 10% mounted on the arm 9%cooperates with a switch 104b.

The operation of the machine under different conditions will now bedescribed 'with reference to FIGURES 5 to 7. The electrical controlcircuits of the machine are arranged with regard to the desideratum thatunder normal operation, i.e. when both the feeding members and thepacking member are operating, the two storage members are filled withcigarettes to a predetermined mean level. To start the machine, a switch112 is closed, thereby energising the relay 110 and starting the motorM4 through the contact K24. The different parts of the machine will thenbe automatically started.

' If it is assumed that the machine is started with both the storagemembers emptied, the two plates a, 80b are in the position shown inFIGURE 5 and the two arms 99a and 99b are substantially vertical so thatthe switches 101a and 1011; are actuated by them and the switches 104aand104b are actuated by the switch actuating arcs a and 10012, thefollowing cyclev of operation will be started.

The relay is energised in a circuit from positive potential throughthe-switch 104a, the diode or other uni-directional conducting deviceL3, the winding of the relay 105, a switch 113, the start switch 112 tonegative potential. The relay then holds itself over a circuit frompositive potential through the limit position switch 102a and contactsK3. The motor M1 is startedv by contacts K4 and drives the left handconveyor belt 76a through the'ch'ai'n 92a. A circuit isi'simultaneouslyclosed to a clutch solenoid Y1 from positive potential through theswitch 104a the unoperated switch 103a and a diode L2 and in parallelfrom positive potential through contacts K7 and hence through thecontacts K12 and K2 (now closed) and the winding of the solenoid tonegativepotential. The solenoid Y1 actuates the clutch 854:

7 in such a manner that the shaft 81a will be connected to the gear 84aand driven from the motor M4 counterclockwise as seen in FIGURE 1thereby causing the plate 80a to be rotated counterclockwise and tobegin storing cigarettes falling down from the belt 76a.

The relay 111 is energized simultaneously with the relay 105 over acircuit from positive potential through the switch 104b acted upon bythe arc 100b, the diode L5, the winding of the relay 111 and the switch114, the starting switch 112 to negative potential. The relay 111 closesthe contacts K27 to provide a holding circuit from positive potentialthrough the limit position switch 102]) and closes the contacts K28 tocomplete a circuit to the motor M2 which is thus started and drives theright hand conveyor belt 76b through the chain 92b in the direction ofthe arrow shown in FIGURE 2. The circuit of a clutch solenoid Y3 iscompleted from positive potential through the switch 104b, the switch103]; and the diode L4 and in parallel from positive potential throughcontacts K8, and hence through contacts K13 and K26 and the winding ofthe solenoid to negative potential with the result that the solenoidoperates the clutch 85b in such a manner that the shaft 81b is connectedto the gear 84b and driven from the motor M4 clockwise as seen in FIGURE5. The storage plate 80b of the right hand storage device secured to theshaft 81b will thus be rotated clockwise so that cigarettes falling fromthe belt 76b will be stored.

This storage cycle continues until the mean level of one or both storagemembers has been reached. If it is assumed that the mean level is firstreached in the right hand storage member which means that the plate 80bis positioned as indicated with dashand-dot lines in FIG- URE l and inwhich position the switch actuating arm has reached and operated theswitch 103!) the following will occur.

A circuit to the relay 109 is closed from positive potential through theswitch 104b, which is held in its shifted condition by the switchactuating are as long as the stored quantity of cigarettes does notexceed the mean level desired, through the now shifted switch 103b, thediode L6 and the winding of the relay 109 and the start switch 112 tonegative potential. As a result a circuit is closed to a starting relay106 from positive po tential through contacts K19 of the relay 108through the contacts K22 and K14, a switch 115 and the winding of therelay 106 to negative potential at the start switch 112. The startingrelay 106 closes its contacts K9 to establish a circuit to the motor M3which starts running at half speed driving the packing member 77 asstated before. When the switch 103!) is actuated by the arm 990, onecircuit through the clutch solenoid Y3 is opened and on energising therelay 106 the other circuit is opened by the contacts K8, therebydeenergising the solenoid Y3 so that the clutch 85b returns. to itsneutral position and interrupts the rotation of the shaft 81b and thusthe rotary motion of the plate 80b.

When the plate 80:: of the left hand storage member has reached its meanposition the arm 99a actuates the switch 103a which completes thecircuit to the relay 108 from positive potential through the contacts104a, still operated by the switch actuating arc 100a, through theshifted switch 103a, the diode L1 and the relay winding to negativepotential at the starting switch 112. The relay 108, when energised,holds itself through the contacts K16 from positive potential andthrough the switch 101a which is in the sitting shown.

Now both storage members contain the desired mean quantity of cigarettesso that the packing member should run at full speed. This is broughtabout by energising the relay 107 in a circuit from positive potentialthrough the contacts K21, the contacts K17, the relay winding and theswitch 115 to negative potential at the starting switch 112.Consequently the relay 107 closes its contacts K causing the motor M3 tooperate at full speed.

The circuit to the solenoid Y1 is opened at contacts K12 uponenergisation of the relay 107 whereby the clutch 85a automaticallyreturns to neutral position thereby interrupting the rotation of theshaft 81a and the plate a.

Now the machine operates normally and the quantity of cigarettesdelivered to the supply container is assumed to be equal to the quantityof cigarettes transferred to the packing member operating at full speed.

If, for any reason, the conveyor of one of the cigarette rod machinesshould not be supplied with cigarettes the motor, driving the conveyor,will be stopped manually or automatically, in known manner. As shown inFIG- URE 3 the starting relays 105 and 111 of the motors M1 and M2,respectively, are each provided with a control switch 113 and 114,respectively. In case of a fault in the left hand cigarette rod machinethe contacts of the switch 113 will break the circuit of the relay 105which will be deenergised thereby opening its contacts K4 and thecircuit to the motor M1. On deenergising of the relay 105, the circuitto the clutch solenoid Y2 is completed at the contacts K1. The solenoidis energised over a circuit from positive potential through theunoperated contacts 101a, the contacts K10 and K1 and the Winding of thesolenoid to negative potential. The solenoid Y2 operates the clutch a sothat the shaft 81a is connected to the gear 83a rotating clockwise,whereby the storage plate 80a begins to rotate clockwise transmittingstored cigarettes to the supply container. The packing member is stillrunning at full speed. Finally all cigar ettes stored in the left handstorage device have been transferred to the supply container and theplate 80a is raised so that the contacts 101a are actuated by the switchactuating arm 99a. The circuit to the solenoid Y2 is opened by thesecontacts and the shaft 81a is unclutched as a result of the return ofthe clutch member 85a to its neutral position. The self-holding circuitof the relay 108 will be opened when the contacts 101a are actuated bythe arm 990, the relay thus being deenergised so as to open the circuitto the relay 107 by opening the contacts K17. Consequently the relay 107will be deenergised and opens the full speed circuit of the motor M3through the contacts K15. The contacts K14, however, close, at the sametime, the energising circuit of the relay 106 which, in turn, closes thecontacts K9 and completes the half speed circuit of the motor M3. Thepacking member then operates at half speed until the left hand cigarettemachine again delivers cigarettes and until the left hand storage devicehas been filled with cigarettes up to the desired level whereon themotor M3 again will be switched over to its full speed circuit, asalready described.

A similar sequence of operations will be started if the right handcigarette machine interrupts the delivery of cigarettes. Such aninterruption is elfected by opening the contacts of the switch 114.

Should one storage device, when starting the machine, contain cigarettesup to the predetermined mean level indicated by the actuated state ofthe switch 104a or 104b, whereas the other storage device is emptied orcontains such a small quantity of cigarettes that the arm 957a or 9% hasleft the intermediate level switch 103a or 103b, the packing member willoperate at half speed until both the storage members contain cigarettesup to the desired mean level and both the relay 168 and the relay 109are energised. The full speed relay 107 will be energised through thecontacts K17 and K21 only when these two relays 108 and 109 areenergised.

If. for any reason, the packing member should stopv the contacts of theswitch 105 are manually or automatically opened to open the circuit tothe relay 106 or to the relay 107 whichever is energised, thus causingthe motor M3 to be stopped. The clutch solenoids Y1 and Y3 are energisedover circuits from positive potential through the contacts K7 and K8,respectively, to connect the shafts 93a. and 93b to the rotating gears84a and 84b,

respectively. Thus theplate- 80a will be rotated counterclockwise andthe plate 80b clockwise so that the capacity of the storage member isincreased; When the arm 99a reaches the limit position switch 102a andactuates it, the circuit of the relay .105 is opened. The relay 105 is,thus, deenergised and opens the contacts K4 and the circuit of the motorM1 thereby causing the left hand conveyor belt 76:: to be stopped. Whenthe right hand storage member has been filled, implying that the plate80b has been turned clockwise to such an angle that the arm 99b operatesthe switch 102b, the holding circuit of the relay 111 through thecontacts K27 is opened. The relay is accordingly deenergised and opensthe contacts K28 and the circuit of the motor M2, thereby causing thebelt 76b to be stopped.

When the machine then is started with filled storage members, first ofall the circuit of the relay 108 is closed from positive potentialthrough the unoperated contacts of the switch 104a, through the windingof the relay and to negative potential at the starting switch 112. Thecircuit of the relay 109 is simultaneously completed from positivepotential at the unoperated contacts of the switch 104b, through thewinding of the relay to negative potential at the starting switch 112.Since both the relay 108 and the relay 109 are energised the circuit ofthe full speed relay 107 is completed by thecontacts K17 and K21 thusenabling the packing member to operate at full container when inactivecondition of the packing iiiech anism is sensed by the second controlmeans. 7

2. A cigarette packing machine comprising walls forming a supplycontainer for the cigarettes having an upper inlet opening and a loweroutlet opening, a feeding device for feeding cigarettes through saidinlet opening into the supply container, means for feeding cigarettesfrom said outlet opening to a packing mechanism, one wall of said supplycontainer being comprised of a flexible belt having an upper and a lowerend portion, said lower end portion being secured adjacent said outletopening, a reversible driving means positioned adjacent said inletopening and operably connected to said upper end por: tion, firstcontrol means associated with said feeding device and sensitive to theoperative condition of the fee d ing device, said reversible drivingmeans being connected to said first control means and operated therebyin dependence on the condition sensed to decrease the length betweensaid inlet opening and said outlet opening of said flexible belt whensaid first control means senses inactive condition of sad feedingdevice, second control means associated with said packing mechanism andsensitive to the operative condition of the packing mechanism, saidreversible driving means being connected to said second control meansand operated thereby in dependence on the condition sensed to increasethe length between I said inlet opening and said outlet opening of theflexible speed. When the relay 107 is energised the circuits of theclutchsolenoids Y2 and Y4 are closed by the contacts K10 and K11,respectively, so that the plates 80a and 80b are given such a rotarymotion that the storage members begin to be emptied. When the switchactuating arms 99a and 9% have reached the switch 103a and 103b,respectively, the related switch contacts are actuated. In this positionof the arms the switch actuating arcs 100a and 1.00b also operate thecorresponding switches 104a and 104b, respectively. The circuits of therelays 105 and 111 are closed by the respective contacts. The motors M1and M2 begin to operate and the machine operates under normalconditions.

The invention should obviously not be restricted to the embodimentsshown but can be modified in various manners. The machine may, forexample, be provided with means for manual control of the movablestorage members, as indicated by the handles 116 and 117 in FIGURE 6.The various switches sensing the positions of the movable storagemembers can be replaced by known sensing devices involving photo cells.

It is, of course, also possible to replace the flexible belt 6 by asingle rigid plate according to the second embodiment described or toreplace the plates 80a, 80b by fiexible belts without making anyfundamental changes in the machines shown. 1 WhatI claim is:

1. A cigarette packing machine comprising a supply container for thecigarettes, a feeding device for feeding cigarettes into said supplycontainer, means for feeding cigarettes from said supply container to apacking mechanism, said supply container being comprised of at least onemovable bounding member, a reversible driving means for said movablebounding member, first control means associated with said feeding deviceand sensitive to "the operative condition of the feeding device, saidreversible driving means being connected to said first control means andoperated thereby in dependence on the condition sensed to drive saidbounding member in a first direction to decrease the capacity of thesupply container when inactive condition of the feeding device is sensedby the first control means, second control means associated with saidpacking mechanism and sensitive to the operative condition of thepacking mechanism, said reyersible driving means being connected to saidsecond control means and operated thereby in dependence on the conditionsensed to drive said bounding member in a second direction to increasethe capacity of the supply belt when said second control means sensesinactive condition of said packing mechanism.

3. A cigarette packing machine comprising walls forming a supplycontainer for the cigarettes having an upper inlet opening and a loweroutlet opening, a feeding device for feeding cigarettes through saidinlet opening into the supply container, means for feeding cigarettesfrom said outlet opening to a packing mechanism, one wall of said supplycontainer being a rigid plate, a reversible driving means positioned atsaid outlet opening and having a. rotatable driving member, said rigidplate being connected to said rotatable driving member to be swung toand fro within the supply container, first control means associated withsaid feeding device and sensing the operative condition of the feedingdevice, said reversible driving means being connected to said firstcontrol means and operated thereby in dependence on the condition sensedsuch that said driving member swings said rigid plate'in a firstdirection to decrease the capacity of the supply container when saidfirst control means senses inactive condition of said feeding device,second control means associated with said packing mechanism and sensingthe operative condition of the packing mechanism, said reversibledriving means being connected to said second control means and operatedthereby in dependence on the condition sensed such that said drivingmember swings said rigid plate in a second direction to increase thecapacity of the supply container when said second control meanssensesinactive condition of said packing mechanism.

4. A cigarette packing machine comprising walls forming a supplycontainer for the cigarettes having an upper inlet opening and a loweroutlet opening, a feeding device including first and second feedingmeans for feeding cigarettes through said inlet opening into said supplycontainer, means for feeding cigarettes from said outlet opening to apacking mechanism, one wall of said supply container being a rigidplate, a second wall of said container also comprising a rigid plate,first reversible driving means having a rotatable driving memberpositioned at said outlet opening, said first rigid plate beingconnected to said first rotatable driving member to be swung to and frowithin the supply container, second reversible driving means having arotatable driving member positioned at said outlet opening, said secondrigid plate being connected to said second rotatable driving member tobe swung to and fro within said supply container, first feeding controlmeans cooperating with said first feeding means and sensing theoperative condition thereof, second feeding control means cooperatingwith said second feeding means and sensing the operative conditionthereof, packing control means cooperating with said packing mechanismand sensing the packing capacity thereof, said first reversible drivingmeans being connected to said first feeding control means and to saidpacking control means to be operated thereby in dependence on thecombination of the conditions sensed by the first feeding control meansand by the packing control means such that said first driving memberswings said first rigid plate in a direction to decrease the capacity ofthe supply container when said first feeding control means sensesinactive condition of said first feeding means and said packing controlmeans senses normal packing capacity of said packing mechanism, and suchthat said first driving member swings said first rigid plate in oppositedirection to increase the capacity of said supply container when saidfirst feeding control eans senses active condition of said first feedingmeans and said packing control means senses decreased packing capacityof said packing mechanism, said second reversible driving means beingconnected to said second feeding control means and to said packingcontrol means to be operated thereby in dependence on the combination ofthe conditions sensed by the second control means and by the packingcontrol means such that said second driving member swings said secondrigid plate in a direction to decrease the capacity of the supplycontainer when said second feeding control means senses inactivecondition of said second feeding means and said packing control meanssenses normal packing capacity of said packing mecha nism, and such thatsaid second driving member swings said second rigid plate in oppositedirection to increase the capacity of said supply container when saidsecond feeding control means senses active condition of said secondfeeding means and said packing control means senses decreased packingcapacity of said packing mechanism.

5. A cigarette packing machine comprising a supply container for thecigarettes comprised of at least one movable bounding member, a feedingdevice for feeding cigarettes to said supply container, means forfeeding cigarettes from said supply container to a packing mechanism, areversible driving means for said movable bounding member, first controlmeans cooperating with said feeding device and sensitive to theoperative condition of the feeding device, said reversible driving meansbeing connected to said first control means and operated thereby independence on the condition sensed to drive said bounding member in afirst direction to decrease the capacity of the supply container wheninactive condition of the feeding device is sensed by the first controlmeans, second control means cooperating with said packing mechanism andsensitive to the operative condition of the packing mechanism, saidreversible driving means being connected to said second control meansand operated thereby in dependence on the condition sensed to drive saidbound ing member in a second direction to increase the capacity of thesupply container when inactive condition of said packing mechanism issensed by the second control means, and third control means operated bysaid movable storage member in any one of two positions of the boundingmember corresponding to a maximum capacity and a minimum capacity,respectively, of the supply container, said reersible driving meansbeing connected to said third control means and operated thereby tointerrupt driving said boundin member in any one of said two positionsof the bounding member.

6. A cigarette packing machine comprising a supply container for thecigarettes comprised of at least one movable bounding member, a feedingdevice for feeding cigarettes into said supply container, means forfeeding cigarettes from said supply container to a packing mechanism, areversible driving means for said movable bounding member, first controlmeans cooperating with said feeding device and sensitive to theoperative condition of the feeding device, said reversible driving meansbeing connected to said first control means and operated thereby independence on the condition sensed to drive said bounding member in afirst direction to decrease the capacity of the supply container wheninactive condition of the feeding device is sensed by the first controlmeans, second control means cooperating with said packing mechanism andsensitive to the operative condition of the packing mechanism, saidreversible driving means being connected to said second control meansand operated thereby in dependence on the condition sensed to drive saidbounding member in a second direction to increase the capacity of thesupply container when inactive condition of said packing mechanism issensed by the second control means, third control means operated by saidmovable storage member in any one of two positions of the boundingmember corresponding to a maximum capacity and a minimum capacity,respectively, of the supply container, said reversible driving meansbeing connected to said third control means and operated thereby toeifect termination of operation of said bounding member in any one ofsaid two positions of the bounding member, and switching means operatingin dependence on the movement of said bounding member to sense when saidbounding member is in a predetermined position between those twopositions corresponding to said maximum and minimum capacities of thesupply container, said switching means being arranged to cooperate withsaid packing mechanism to allow same to operate first when the switchingmeans senses said predetermined position.

7. A cigarette packing machine comprising a supply container for thecigarettes comprised of at least two movable, rigid plates, and havingan upper inlet opening and a lower outlet opening, a feeding deviceincluding first and second feeding means for feeding cigarettes throughsaid inlet opening into said supply container, means for feedingcigarettes from said outlet opening to a packing mechanism, firstdriving means having a first rotatable driving member positioned at saidoutlet opening, a first of said rigid plates being connected to saidfirst rotatable driving member to be swung between two limit positionswithin the supply container, a second driving means having a secondrotatable driving member positioned at said outlet opening, a second ofsaid rigid plates being connected to said second rotatable drivingmember to be swung between two limit positions within said supplycontainer, first feeding control means co operating with said firstfeeding means and sensing the operative condition thereof, secondfeeding control means cooperating with said second feeding means andsensing the operative conditions thereof, packing control meanscooperating with said packing mechanism and sensing the packing capacitythereof, said first reversible driving means being connected to saidfirst feeding control means and to said packing control means to beoperated thereby in dependence on the combination of the conditionssensed by the feeding control and the packing control means such thatsaid first driving member swings said first rigid plate in a directionto decrease the capacity of the supply container when said first feedingcontrol means senses inactive condition of said first feeding means andsaid packing control means senses normal packing capacity of saidpacking mechanism and such that said first driving member swings saidfirst rigid plate in opposite direction to increase the capacity of saidsupply container when said first feeding control means senses activecondition of said first feeding control means and said packing controlmeans senses decreased packing capacity of said packing mechanism, saidsecond reversible driving means being connected to said feeding controlmeans and to said packing control means to be operated thereby independence on the combination of the conditions sensed by the secondcontrol means and the packing control means such that said seconddriving means swings said second rigid plate in a direction to decreasethe capacity of the supply container when said second feeding controlmeans senses inactive condition of said second feeding means and saidpacking control means senses normal packing capacity of said packingmechanism and such that said second driving member swings said secondrigid plate in opposite direction to increase the capacity of saidsupply container when said second feeding control means senses activecondition of said second feeding means and said packing control meanssenses decreased packing capacity of said packing mechanism, firstswitching means operating in dependence on the movement of said firstrigid plate, second switching means operating in dependence on themovement of said second rigid plate, said first and second switchingmeans being connected to the packing mechanism to control the operationthereof in dependence of the combined operation of the first and secondswitching means such that said packing mechanism is caused to startoperating with half packing capacity when one of said first and saidsecond switching means senses that the cooperating rigid plate is in apredetermined position between said two limit positions and such thatsaid packing mechanism will operate with normal packing capacity whensaid first and said second switching means sense that said first andsaid second plate are in predetermined positions between theirrespective limit positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,203,906 Paridon Nov. 7, 1916 1,358,255 Seufer et al. Nov. 9, 19201,726,139 Blasco et al Aug. 27, 1929 1,928,736 Orstrom Oct. 3, 19332,609,779 Goldsworthy Sept. 9, 1952

